Sarah Calder from St Clare Hospice and Ian Barnard representing Cancer Research visited Cllr Hicks at UDC’s London Road offices to discuss his year of fundraising and public appearances, and to each receive a cheque for £2,340, sharing the total of £4,680.

Among other events, Cllr Hicks was invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace, took part in a ‘Follow The Bear Walk’ for St Clare Hospice, attended the Royal visit of the Queen at Felsted School, and laid a wreath on the war memorial in Saffron Walden.

Cllr Hicks said: “It has been a wonderful year as chairman and I am pleased to have raised so much money for two such deserving charities.

“I hope that in my term as chairman I have raised awareness of them both and that they continue to receive the support they deserve.”

Cllr Keith Artus took over the chain from Cllr Hicks at the council’s annual meeting on May 13. His nominated charities for the year are Help For Heroes and British Heart Foundation.